Spoon, the Bravery to Headline Union County MusicFest

Alternative rock groups Spoon and The Bravery will headline the 13th annual Union County MusicFest this fall, the county's Board of Chosen Freeholders announced in a press release last week. The free weekend festival will take place at Oak Ridge Park in Clark.

The two bands will be joined by singer/songwriters Jesse Malin with his band The St. Marks Social and Willie Nile, and by New Jersey native Robert Randolph and the Family Band. The Nils Lofgren Acoustic Duo will also perform. More confirmed artists will also be announced in the coming weeks.

MusicFest starts Wednesday, Sept. 8 with a county fair-style carnival. The concerts take place Saturday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 12. For families attending the festival with children, the weekend will include the Kids Kingdom Traveling Jubilee, which features live music, performances, a petting zoo, moonwalks, interactive educational activities, crafts, and more. The performances and music are free, and the activities are free or affordably priced.

The Hell on Wheels BMX stunt bikers will also return with their free shows. Dozens of food stands, sponsor booths, arts, crafts and other vendors round out the festivities. Attendees are also welcome to bring picnic baskets, blankets, and lawn chairs.

Sponsorships defray the cost of staging MusicFest, which enables Union County to keep the music free and open to all music fans. Offsets also come from vendor fees paid by The County Fair at MusicFest and other concessionaires, and on-site parking fees. Ample free parking with free shuttle service to MusicFest is available at sites near Oak Ridge Park.

"Union County's free summer arts programming provides every resident with the opportunity to benefit from uplifting community experiences in a healthy outdoor setting, while offering a venue for Union County businesses to grow," Freeholder Daniel P. Sullivan said in the press release. "Along with our entire arts schedule, MusicFest plays an important foundational role in Union County's long term economic development.

The Bravery, Jesse Malin and The St. Marks Social and Willie Nile will perform on Saturday. Spoon, Robert Randolph and The Family Band and the Nils Lofgren Duo will perform on Sunday.

For all event information, visit the official MusicFest website, www.ucmusicfest.com. More details, artist announcements, schedules and updates will be added as they become available.